Patients face difficulties after the dialysis machine broke down in Shatrughan-Manju Kidney Dialysis Centre run by Damauli Hospital. Out of the 11 dialysis machines in the dialysis center, seven machines have broken down. The technical team of the National Kidney Treatment Centre from Kathmandu arrived and repaired the broken machine and put it into operation on May 31, 2023. Unfortunately, the machine broke down again creating complications.
Shailendra Pandit, the person in charge of dialysis service, informed seven out of the 11 dialysis machines have broken down and only four machines are available for use. Pandit also briefed that after the machine broke down, it was inconvenient to provide services to the patients who came for dialysis.
Pandit informed that 48 kidney patients were undergoing dialysis regularly at the dialysis center. To provide service to everyone after the machine broke down, the dialysis time was reduced. He then added that the technician who repaired the broken machine had to travel from Kathmandu, and therefore could not be repaired immediately.
Devendra Thapa, chairman of the Damauli Hospital Management Committee, said that out of 11 machines, three machines were damaged and beyond repair but the remaining machines could be used to provide service if repaired. He further said that despite repeatedly informing the Gandaki provincial government about the dialysis machine, they received no response.
Chin Bahadur Thapa of Vyas-1 Bhadgaon, who has been undergoing regular dialysis at Damauli Hospital, complained that the duration of dialysis also reduced after the machine broke down. Thapa also informed that due to a lack of machines, currently, 25 dialysis patients have to take turns all day.